Slatted closure device for windows



May 15, 1962 c. L. GEROLD 3,034,574

SLATTED CLOSURE DEVICE FOR WINDOWS Filed Jan. 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mummy INVENTOR. CHARLES L. GEROLD BYQ ATTORNEY May 15, 1962 c. GEROLD 3,034,574

SLATTED CLOSURE DEVICE FOR WINDOWS Filed Jan. 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

i? INVENTOR. CHARLES LGEROLD FIG. 4

ATTORNEY May 15, 1962 c. L. GEROLD SLATTEJD CLOSURE DEVICE FOR wnwows 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 7, 1959 FIG.5

INVENTOR. CHARLES L. GEROLD BY 5 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,034,574 SLATIED CLOSURE DEVICE FOR WINDOWS Charles L. Gerold, 3090 NW. 77th St., Miami, Fla. Filed Jan. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 785,504 4 Claims. (Cl. 160-34) This invention relates to closure devices for use in connection with windows or other openings and contemplates a device that may be engaged with a conventional window frame and preferably to overlie the usual screen frame of the window.

The device embodies a frame having a header and a sill and with the header and the sill connected by jamb members and with the header and the sill having troughlike channels that extend for their full length and with upper and lower closure devices that are cumulated i the upper and lower channels respectively and whereby the closures may be individually controlled to cover and uncover any desired area of the window.

The closure device embodies a plurality of slats that are transversely bowed and with the slats adapted to have overlapping relation when the cover is in the operative position and with each end of the several slats being supported within clip devices and whereby the several slats are connected in a manner to cause them to overlap in the extended position and to cumulate in a stacked relation within the channels of the header and the sill.

A further object of the invention is to provide jamb members that are channeled to receive key members carried by each of the end clips and with each of the slats being readily removable from the clips and also removable with respect to each other and, with actuating cords and lock mechanisms for each group of slats.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a closure device constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view, parts removed for sake of clearness,

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1 and with the upper and lower group of slats being partially shifted to closure position,

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but with the slats being fully extended to cover the window open- FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a group of end clips and their association with each other,

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged horizontal section through one jamb member and,

FIGURE 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of FIG- ure 7.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a header element, 6 a sill element and 7 a pair of jamb members connecting the header and the sill. Each of the jamb members 7, see particularly FIG URE 7, is a hollow box-like structure 8, slotted upon its forward wall as at 9. The header 5'is rigidly connected to the jamb members and is bent to form a downwardly opening trough 10, while the sill 6 is bent to form an upwardly opening trough 11. Connected with the header 5 is a group of transversely bowed slats 12, the slats 12 extend for the full width of the frame formed Patented May 15, 1962 by the header, the sill and the jamb members 7. Disposed at the lower end of the frame is a group of transversely bowed slats 13. The several groups of slats 12 and 13 are adapted to cumulate in stacked relation within the troughs 10 and 11 under the influence of means to be presently described.

The ends of the slats 12 and 13 have connecting engagement with end clips 14, see particularly FIGURE 6. Each of the end clips 14 embody a metallic strip 15, having its lower end bent upon itself as at 16 to form a receptacle for the reception of the lower edge of the slats. The upper edge of the strip 15 is provided with a band 17 having a projecting finger 18 of T-shape and with the finger 18 being guided within the slot 9 of the jam'bs 8 and whereby to maintain the slats in their overlapping relationship. A lowermost clip 19 has its terminal lower end rolled at 20 whereby to engage the bottom of the trough 11 and that causes the clip and the succeeding clips connected thereto to roll or slide outwardly, shown particularly'in FIGURE 3 and so that all of the slats in the lower section will cumulate or pile upon each other. This motion is provided by link wires 21, that are pivotally engaged with the lower clip 19 and with ears 22 formed upon the next adjacent clip. The band 17 upon the forward side of the strip 15 is cut away at 23 and whereby to receive the upper marginal edge of the slats 13, with the lower marginal edge of the slats being engaged within the bend portion 16. The uppermost clip 14 of the lower group of slats has its T- head 18 perforated at 24 to receive a connecting element 25 of a flexible elevating cable 26 and through the medium of which the several clips and their supported slats may be raised and lowered and guided by the engagement of the T-heads 18 within the slots 9 of the jamb members. The cable 26 engages the usual traverse and locking mechanism 27 similar to the conventional elevating and locking mechanism embodied in the well known Venetian blinds. The uppermost slat is provided with a reinforcing bar 28. The upper group of slats 1 are supported within end clips 29 and the lowermost clip 29 of the upper group of slats are provided with a band 30 having the T-head 31 that is apertured for connection to an operating cable 32. The clips 29 are similar to the clips 14 and also traverse the slots 9 of the jamb members to be movable in an upper and lower direction under the influence of. the .cables 32, also having traverse engagement with the conventional roller and locking mechanism 33 carried by the header 5. The clips 29 are also connected together by the wire links 34. The clips 29 are inverted with respect to the clips 14 and have their T-heads 31 also engaged within the slots 9 of the jamb members 8. The uppermost clip 35 is linked to the jamb members 8, by wire link 36. The lowermost slat is also reinforced by a relatively rigid bar 37. The link 36 being hingedly connected to the jamb members 8 limits .the downward movement of the upper group of slats and with its bar 37 having an angeled lower edge 38 adapted to override the reinforcing bar 28 when the slats are fully moved to cover the opening of the frame. Actuation of the cables 32 causing the clip 35, under the influence of the links 36, to swing outwardly away from the jam-b members 8 and, the several lower clips, due to their linked connections also swing outwardly to overlie and cumulate the several slats and the clips in stacked relation within the trough 10, it being understood that the troughs 10 and 11 are sufliciently deep to accumulate the several slats of each group. The cables 26 and 32 pass downwardly through the jambs 8 for connection to the uppermost and lowermost clip of each group upon opposite sides of the device.

In the use of the .device, the frame is assembled in overlying relation to the conventional insect screening of the window and possibly secured in position by screws or possibly by the conventional clips that hold the screen frame in position. The several slats are then clipped with respect to the end clips 14 and 29. The clips are first assembled by connecting the links 21 and 34 from one clip to another, thus pivotally supporting the clips with respect to each other. With the several slats in clipped engagement, the operator may pull upon either the cable 26 or 32. When pulling upon the cable 32, the upper group of slats are shifted upwardly, with their T-heads sliding within the slots 9 of the jamb members to the position where the several slats accumulate in the header in piled arrangement. The cable 26 is then released to lower the lower group of slats, the lower clip 19 initially shifting upon the bottom of the trough 11 and through the linkage 21 causing the several links and their supported slats to cumulate in piled relation upon the bottom of the trough 11. Through the medium of the cables 26 and 32, the two groups of slats can be individually operated to cover either the upper or lower portion of the frame opening. It has been found desirable that the lower group of slats be elevated sufficiently to cover the lower portion of the opening when privacy is desirable but, when it is desired that the frame be fully covered, the lower group of slats are elevated to approximately one-half the opening and then the upper group of slats are lowered so that the reinforcing bars 26 and 36 overlap, as shown in FIGURE 4. When it is desired to clean the slats, they may be flexed transversely to disconnect their ends from the respective clips, thus facilitating the cleansing action. After cleaning, the slats are again additionally bowed transversely and engaged in clipped relation with respect to their respective clips. It is contemplated that the several clips and the slats, together with the frame shall be formed of a metal having a high resistance to corrosion, such as aluminum. The device thus offers a very desirable closure device that is substituted for the conventional Venetian blind and whereby the operator may control to a desired degree the closure of the opening. The several clips are preferably stamped in a convenient manner and assembled one with respect to another by the links 21 and 34, thus causing the several slats to lie in partial overlapping relation when in the closure position. The device is strong, cheap to manufacture and highly effective as a closure device for window openings.

Since the upper group of slats have anchored relation to the header 5, it will be apparent that the upper group is limited in its movement to cover substantially half of the frame opening. The lower group of slats are not anchored with respect to the sill 6 and obviously are movable to any degree with respect to the frame opening. With the upper group of slats in fully cumulated and stacked relation with respect to the trough 10, the operator may shift the lower group of slats to any degree desirable for controlling the passage of light through the frame opening and without regard to the upper group of slats. It will be apparent of course that with the upper group of slats stacked within the header 5, the lower group can then be capable of controlling a predetermined area of the frame opening. and, may be utilized as a means to provide privacy within the building and, if elevated sufliciently high, permits light to pass inwardly below the lowermost slat 13. The device is thus flexible in that any desired area of the frame opening may be covered or, as before pointed out, the bars 28 and 37 may be connected together and the entire group of slats then operating under the control of the cable for the upper group of slats.

It is to'beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

being tubular and square in cross section and with their inner faces being slotted for substantially their full height, the header being provided for its full height with an inwardly extending and downwardly opening trough, the sill member being provided with an upwardly opening a trough, an upper group of slats and a lower g oup of slats that are horizontally arranged and with the upper and lower group of slats being movable in a vertical plane in opposed relation, the several slats in each group when in the closure position being in overlapping contacting relation, end clips for the ends of the several slats having detachable connection to the slats, each of the clips having upper and lower flanges under which longitudinal edge portions of the slats are extended, the engagement of the slats with such flanges maintaining the slats in a transversely bowed condition, each of the clips having a rearwardly angled tongue portion of T-shape that is located in and has slidable engagement within the slots of the jamb members, the clips of the upper groups of slats being inverted with respect to the clips of the lower group of slats, link means between adjacent clips whereby 1 edge whereby to cam the clips in a forward direction to dispose the lowermost slat of the lower group in a horizontal flat position within the lower trough when the lower group of slats are shifted downwardly, the said link means causing the several slats of the lower group to progressively swing forwardly to lie upon the lowermost slat in stacked relation within the trough, a control cable connected to the upper end of the uppermost clips of the lower group of slats for shifting the lowermost group of slats upwardly, the lowermost group of slats being movable downwardly and into the trough by gravity, the hinged connection for the uppermost clips in the upper group of slats causing the uppermost slat to swing outwardly for relatively flat engagement within the uppermost trough, the said link means between the slats of the uppermost group functioning to swing the slats progressively upwardly and forwardly for a stacked relation in the uppermost trough and a cable device connected with the lowermost clips of the upper group of slats for controlling the movement of the upper group of slats in a vertical plane toward and from their stacked relation, the upper group of slats being shiftable downwardly by gravity upon release of the last named cable device.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the upper and lower flanges of the clips of both groups of slats form opposed grooves, the said connecting means for the first named cable being at the end portions of the uppermost group of clips for the lower group of slats, the connecting means for the second named cable being at the lower end of the lower clips for the upper group of slats and control and locking means disposed within the header for the control of the cables whereby the upper and lower group of slats may be shifted to a predetermined covering position with respect to the opening of the frame.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the lowermost slat of the upper group and the uppermost slat of the lower group are provided for their major length with reinforcing bars, the reinforcing bar of the upper group of slats being angled to have overriding and overlapping engagement with the bar of the lowermost group of slats whereby the slats of both groups may be con nected in overlying relation to fully close the opening of the frame.

4. A closure device of the character described comprising, a frame having a header and a sill connected by vertically-disposed jamb members, each jamb member consisting of a tubular element of square cross section and slotted for its full length, the header having an inwardly-extending, downwardly opening trough for the accumulation of slats in an upper group, the sill having an inwardly-extending, upwardly opening trough for the accumulation of slats in a lower group, an upper group of flexible slats and a lower group of flexible slats, clips for the ends of the several slats, each of the clips for the slats in the lower group having an upper flange extending over the upper edge of a slat, each of the clips for the slats in the lower group having an upturned lower end forming a seat for its slat, said flanges and upturned lower ends on the clips being effective to hold the slats disposed between them in a transversely-bowed condition, the clips for the slats in the upper group having flanges at their upper and lower edges to thereby embrace the slats in said upper group between them in a transversely-bowed condition, the various slats being disengageable from the respective clips by fiexure of said slats, and each of the clips having a rearwardly-directed T-shaped finger engaging with the slots in the jamb members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,267,087 Lancaster May 21, 1918 1,302,093 Showmaker Apr. 29, 1919 1,708,636 Shook Apr. 9, 1926 2,393,819 Smith et a1. Jan. 29, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 538,932 Great Britain Aug. 21, 1941 

